Immigrant truck drivers face new CDL restrictions, raising concerns over delivery delays and rising food costs across US supply chains.
A controversial rule that went into effect Monday blocking immigrant truck drivers in the US from renewing their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) could push grocery prices to new highs and snarl supply chains.
Following a handful of high-profile incidents in which truck drivers born outside of the US allegedly injured other drivers or pedestrians while on the job, the Department of Transportation introduced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) rule, which bars asylum seekers, refugees and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and other “non-domiciled CDL holders” from renewing their CDL – even if they are legally allowed to work in the US.
The rule, which went into effect March 16, could take up to 200,000 immigrant drivers off the road in the coming years as their licenses expire. Representing about 5% of the current trucker workforce, the drop could negatively impact the price and availability of groceries and other goods.
‘Trucking is the glue that holds the entire system together’
Truckers move three-quarters of freight in the US, according to the American Trucking Association. For some food segments, the rates are even higher. USDA estimated in 2010 that trucks move more than 70% of all agricultural products, including 90% of dairy, produce and nuts.
“Trucking is the glue that holds the entire system together. There is effectively no segment in the food supply chain that does not rely on trucks, because even barges, carriers and trains rely on trucks at the end point of their routes,” Ricky Vople, a professor of agribusiness at Cal Poly, recently told Andy Harig, vice president of tax, trade, sustainability and policy development with FMI – The Food Industry Association.
He explained in a blog post on the trade group’s website that transportation is a top structural pain point that could have a significant impact on food prices this year.
“Truck transportation, particularly for long-haul routes and refrigerated cargo, remains very problematic,” he said, explaining: “Truck rates continue to outpace economy-wide inflation, and this has a multiplicative effect on food prices.”
Those rates, and by extension the cost of goods, could increase exponentially as immigrant truckers are forced off the road and unable to help backfill demand for drivers, warned a produce importer.
Truck drivers caught in a political crossfire
Despite the risk to supply chains, including for food, the Trump administration and Republican leaders have increasingly targeted immigrant truck drivers.
During the State of the Union address last month, President Donald Trump evoked an incident from June 2024 in which an immigrant truck driver allegedly hit a stopped car in which five-year-old Dalilah Coleman sat.
Citing concerns about immigrant drivers’ grasp of English, Trump urged Congress to pass legislation barring states from granting commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants.
The following day, Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Banks introduced the Dalilah Law to limit trucking licenses to US citizens, lawful permanent residents and “certain work visa holders only.” The bill, which has not moved for a vote, would also revoke tucking licenses for immigrants with temporary status whether or not they have work authorization and without consideration for their driving records.
The legislation follows an Executive Order signed by Trump last April mandating written and verbal English proficiency for commercial truck drivers, which received mixed reactions from the trucking and logistics industry, with some warning of potential shipping delays as drivers lost their licenses.
The legislation and policies pursued under the Trump administration contrast sharply with efforts under the previous presidential administration, including a trio of trucking bills proposed in part to recruit more truck drivers and improve supply chain efficiency. This included streamlining the commercial drivers’ license process.
Former President Joe Biden’s administration also advocated for a Trucking Action Plan that would help alleviate a nearly 80,000 driver shortage at the time.
Legislators and litigation push back against the law
Some legislators are pushing back against the Trump administration’s efforts to curb non-domiciled commercial driver licenses.
Illinois’ Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias recently condemned the administration’s threat to withhold federal funds tied to compliance with the FMCSA, noting that the state already verifies the lawful immigration status of all non-domiciled CDL applicants.
Giannoulias also cautioned that “if trucks don’t move, supply chains fail and families feel it in their pocketbooks.”
For support, he pointed to a letter from the Illinois Agricultural Association expressing concern that a disruption in issuing CDLs would negatively impact agricultural operations across the state and disrupt critical spring activities.
Last month, the Public Citizen Litigation Group, filed a lawsuit challenging the rule, arguing that “by blocking lawfully present immigrants from obtaining these licenses, the administration isn’t just undermining their ability to support their families – it is jeopardizing the essential services our communities rely on every day.”
The President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which is party to the suit, added the rule is “short-sighted” and will make the current cost of living crisis worse.
Takeaway
As the new CDL restrictions take effect, the trucking industry – and the food supply chains that rely on it – face uncertainty that could translate to tighter capacity, higher freight rates and potential delays of perishable goods. This ultimately could lead to higher grocery prices.
Stakeholders across the supply chain will need to monitor driver availability, legal developments and regulatory updates as they navigate this issue going forward.
